Fulton fishermen to host fundraiser for ‘local hero’

The Callaway Bass Anglers have decided to start giving back, and they have chosen a local veteran as their first beneficiary.

On May 20, the Anglers will be hosting a benefit tournament for Tyler Huffman — a Fulton-area native and former Marine who was left paralyzed after being shot by a sniper in Afghanistan — at Lake of the Ozarks.

“We’re trying to get local people to come down and participate,” said Callaway Bass Anglers president Jarod Plybon. “I think it’s going to turn out to be a pretty big deal — we’re expecting about 100-150 boats.”

Plybon said the Anglers usually keeps the money from their sponsors for club use, but recently, “decided we were being selfish and we needed to give back.”

He said they chose to contribute to the efforts to build Huffman and his family — which includes wife, Mellisa, and young son Matthew — a home in Jefferson City because “he is a local guy.”

Entry into the tournament is $110 per boat/team of two, with a 70-percent payback for the winners.

Plybon said the response to the tournament already has been “overwhelming — I’m getting 10 phone calls a day.”